Valve-gear.



H. S. VINCENT.

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 24, 1909.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR H. S. VINCENT.

VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1909.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 11,1910.

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HARRY S. VINCENT, 0F RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

VALVE-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1910.

Application filed July 2 1, 1909. Serial No. 509,280.

T 0 all whom 'it may concern:

lie it known that l, llannr S. VINCENT, of ltidgewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey. have invented a certain new and useful lm'provement in Valve- (lears, of which imprdvement the following is a specification. u

My present invention, which relates to valve gears for three cylinder fluid pressure engines, is applicable to all engines having three cylinders'the fluid utilizing functions of which are effected by valves of the reciprocating type, and is especially adaptable to-lccomotive engines, either those in which all three cylinders are of the single expansion type, or thoge of the stage expansion or compound type.

The object of my invention is to providesimple and el'licient means for actuating the ,tribution therein.

distribution valve of the central cylinder of a three cylinder engii e, without the use of an independent valve gear operated by the driving axle or connecting rod, such as 'has heretofore been employed, said means being capable of eliecting eitherpractically the same distribution of the motive fluid in all three of the cylinders, or a dissimilar dis- The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view, in elevation, of the valve gear of a three cylinder locomotive, illustrating an application of my invention as adapted to effect similar distribution of motive fluid in all three of the cylinders Fig. 2, a planv or top view of the same; Fig.3, a transverse section, on the line to w of Fig. 2-; Fig. 4;, a side view, in elevation, of the lvalve gear of a three cylinder locomotive, illustrating a structural modification of my invention as adapted to effect-dissimilar distribution of motive fluid within the cylinders of'a stage expansion engine, as by relatively varying the cut off in the high and low pressure cylinders; Fig. 5, a plan or top view of the same; and, Fig. 6, atransverse section, on the. line 3 yof Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive,

.my invention is herein exemplified as applied in a threecylinder single expansion locomotive engine, having a central cyhnder,

-1, and two side cylinders, 1 ,1", in which the distribution valves, 2 2 o'f the outer cylinders, 1, l", are operated by ordinary Walschaert valve 'gears, each of which -com-.

prises a return cank, 4:, eccentric rod, 5, link, 6, radius bar, 7, and lap and lead lever, 8', to which valve gears, the valve stems, 3 3 of the valves, 2 2", are connected in the usual manner. The'distribution valve, 2, of the central cylinder, 1, is actuated through means provided by my invention, which will now be described. In the ordinary operation of the locomotive, reciprocating movement is imparted, through the \Valschaert valve gears above specified, to the valve stems, 3 3 and connected distribution valves, 2*, 2 of the outer cylinders, 1*, 1"; Two transverse rocker shafts, 9, 9, are jcurnaled in suitable bearings, inline axially one with the other, below the valve stems, said shafts carrying, cntheir outer ends, rocker arms, 9", to which the outer valve stems, 8, 3 are coupled, and to which the radius rods, 7, of the Walschaert gears, of the two outer cylinders are also coupled. The inner ends of the shafts, 9, 9, have fixed upon them, rocker arms, 9 of greater length than the arms 9 and said arms, 9", are coupled, by links 10 10, to the opposite arms of a double armed selector lever, 10,

pivoted centrally, by a pin, 10 to the stern,

3, of the distribution valve of the central cylinder, 1. The selector lever, through the combined action upon it of the valve gears of the two outer cylinders, imparts to the valve stem, 3, and connected distributionrod, which independent valve gear is, under my inventien as above described, wholly dispensed with.

Figs. =1 to 6 inclusive, illustrate a structural modification of my invention, in which, as in the construction first described, the distribution valve of the central cylinder, 1, is

actuated without the use of an independent valve. gear, and which, further, embodies the capability of effecting distribution in the central cylinder dissimilar to that in the outer cylinders, as may be desired in a stage expansion engine. In'the instance shown, the distribution valves, 2*, 2", of the outer low pressure cylinders, 1 1 are actuated by \Valschaert v'alveigears similar to'thosc before described, and'the' distribution valve, 2, of the central high pressure cylinder, 1, is actuated 'through the intermediation of transverse rocker shafts, 9, 9, carrying rocker arms, 9, 9, and a double armed selector lever, 10, coupled to the rocker arms, 9 by links, 10 10", also substantially as before described. in this instance, the motion imparted to the selector lever, 10, instead of being communicated directly to the stem, 3, of the distribution valve oi the central high pressure cylinder, 1, as before described, is imparted thereto. through a rod, 3, to which the selector lever is pivoted centrally, said rod being coupled, at its end farther "from the selector lever, to a combination lever, 11, the opposite end of which is coupled, by a link, 11, to an arm, 12, on the cross head, 12, of the central cylinder, 1. The resultant 0'. the motion inparted to the upper and lower ends of the combination lever, ellects the reciprocation of the distribution valve, 2, of the central cylinder, through a sliding block. 11, fixed to the stem, 3, of said valve, the block, 11", working on a. fixed guide, 11,

and being coupled to the combination lever,

1.1, by a pin 11.

I will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the selector lever, 10, may, without departure from the spirit. and operative principle of my invention, be located either vertieally, horizontally, or at any convenient angle, and that it may, if preferred, be connected directly to reciprocating members of the valve gears which operate the distribu, tion valves of the two outer cylinders, with out the interposition of the links 10, 10". It will be further obvious that my invention is not limited in application to engines in which the distribution valves of the outer cylinders are actuated by the specific type of valve gear herein selected for illustration, as the Stephenson link motion, or any other known type of valve gear, may be used without variation of operative principle.

The practical advantage of my invention, in enabling the cost of construction and maintenance of the independent valve gear heretofore employed for actuating the distribution valve of the central cylinder, to be dispensed with, will be apparent to construe tors and operators of locomotive engines.

It claim as my invention and desire to cure by Let ers Patent:

1. In a ti having one central and two side cylinders, the combination of two valve operating mechanisms, eacl actuating the distribution valve of one of the side cylinders independ ently of that of the other, and means for imparting the resultant of the independent 'ee cylinder fluid pressure engine movements of said mlve mechanisms to the distribution vz lve ot' the central cylinder.

2. In a three cylinder fluid pres ure engine having one central and two side ovlinders, the combination ot two valve operating mechai'iisms, each actuating the distribution valve ot one of the side cyliiulers independently 0t that ol the ()llil r. and lover and link connections through which the resultant of the independent movemenh of said valve mechanisms is tl'flll'-lllltl0(t to the (llSlTIlblltion valve ot the central cylinder.

In a three cylinder lluid pres ure engine having one central and two side cylinders, the combination of two valve operating" mechanisms, eacl actuatimr the distribution valve of one of the 'side cylinders. a double armed selector lever pivoted centrally to a stern onnected with the distribution valve of the central cylinder, and connections coupling the ends of said selector lcvcr with the valve operating;- mechanisms.

l. in a three cylinder lluid pressure engine having one central and two side. cylinders,

the combination of two valve operating mechanisms, each actuating the distribution valve of one of the side cylinders, a double armed selector lever pivoted centrally to a stem connected with the distribution valve of the central cylinder, two rocker shafts journaled iii line axially, rocker aruis lived on said rocker shafts and coupled to the valve operating mechanisms, and rocker arms, of greater length, fixed on said rocker shafts and coupled to the selector lever.

5. in a three cylinder fluid pressure engine having one central and two side cylinders, the combination of two valve operating mechanisms, each actuating the distribution valve of one of the side cylinders, a double armed selector lever pivoted centrally to a rod or stem, two rocker shatts journaled in line axially, rocker arms lived on said rocker shafts and coupled to the valve operating nieelulnisms, rocker arms. ot greater length, lined on said rocker shafts and coupled to the selector lever, a cross head lived on the piston rod of the central ovlinder. a combination lever coupled at its opposite ends to said cross head and to the stem ot the selector lever, respectively, and connections coupling said con'ibination lever, between its ends,

to the distribution valve stem of the central cylinder.

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